My Paparazzi Struggle

A few months ago during Spring term at BYU, I was on campus one day. I wasn't taking any classes at the time, so this was a pretty rare occurrence. I was, however, still doing some research work for a professor and I had some things to drop off at her office. As I was walking a google maps van drove by me.

"I'M GOING TO BE FAMOUS" was my first thought. 

Unfortunately, i'm not kidding. But then I forgot about it for a while. At lunch with my dad just a few days ago, the topic resurfaced and I informed him that I was going to be famous on google very soon, I was sure of it.

Then this week, I saw this on Facebook:

Wasting no time at all, I remembered where on campus I had been when the van drove by, and I went there...

BOOM BABY. THERE I AM. RED PANTS. PURSE THAT DOESN'T MATCH. ARMS FULL OF RESEARCH. FACE-BLUR AND ALL, THAT IS ME.

Sheesh. It is just too hard to get any real privacy these days. Don't these people understand the struggle that it is to be constantly in the spotlight?! Sometimes we just need a private moment to ourselves! Take it from a girl who has had some paparazzi struggle in her past (I mean me), sometimes we just need a break. Now i'm even famous on google, not to mention all the other places, like... you know, all those other places that i'm so famous! It gets frustrating sometimes... but i'll make you this promise right now: i'll never shave my head then hit someone with an umbrella, forget to wear underpants when climbing out of my car, or throw a veeery expensive camera on the ground. I'll stay classier than that and instead just throw up the worst faces I know how to make. Or i'll be cool like Ms. Emma Stone and the handsome Mr. Andrew Garfield and i'll do something like this. Next time, google, next time.

FAME.
It's a gift... 
And a curse
(for those of you who watch Monk ;))

I Just Made Your Day

Hey guys.

99 days until Christmas.

I'm celebrating by listening to Christmas music tonight while I study. 

Don't pretend you're not tempted to do the same.

Here, i'll make it easy for you.

You're welcome.

Yesterday, my sweet daddio was in town for 24 hours on business, and together we celebrated 100 days until Christmas in style! In other words... he spoiled me big time.

Gift #1: I got to see my dad. He made time for me in a tightly scheduled day.

Gift #2: He filled my gas tank.

Gift #3: He took me to temple square.

Gift #4: He bought me a delicious lunch at the Blue Lemon.

Gift #5: He let me jabber on about my life as much as I wanted, without making me feel dumb or judging me.

Gift #6: We had girl talk. Honestly, my dad is the best at that.

Gift #7: He made my day better than it ever could have been without him there!!

'Tis the season :)

(Okay so just so y'all know... I DO typically start celebrating the holidays quite early... but never really this early. I'm just excited that we are down into double digits, so i'm making a temporary exception!)

College Turned Me Weird(er)

Have you ever added someone new on Facebook and then thought: hmm, I wonder what this person's impression of me will be after the typical initial Facebook stalk they do on me? 

And then you go stalk yourself for a little bit...

And you realize that to this stranger-recently-turned-friend might make a few snap judgements based on some pretty interesting things they see.

In high school I was just a totally normal girl*. Okay well, mostly. Maybe.

But then I came to college, and apparently something changed. The pictures that have accumulated and been posted on Facebook over the last 3ish years of my life are... well honestly I wouldn't say its going too far to say that some of them are pretty frightening. I look at this girl with my face, wearing my clothes, living in my apartment, and I wonder, who is that?! That can't be me. I didn't really do that.

Oh wait. Yes I did. 

Because college turned me weird.

Put four to six girls into one small apartment which is surrounded by many other small apartments also crammed full of four to six girls and let me tell you, sometimes you just don't have any control over the chaotic random happenings. There are no explanations, no reasons, no justifications. It just happens. 

While it is true that many of these pictures are from my freshman year when the newfound independence was used to put gummy bears in my nose and panty hose over my head, I can't say that the college weirdness has subsided completely. It is true that some of it still endures. Catch me in the right mood with the right people at the right moment with a camera in hand, and those judgement-worthy Facebook pictures will just keep coming.

(Quick note... after finishing this post, I suddenly realize a common denominator in many of these pictures... and her name is Lindsey Hanna. I mean i'm just saying.)

My plea to those reading/looking/watching all of this stuff: Hopefully you know me personally enough to not judge me TOO harshly!

Oh gosh, and not to mention the cringe-worthy video evidence...

This one was captured less than year ago while I was getting ready for a big significant first date. 

As you can hear, I can't sing to save my life, and thus I was mortified.

*Fine, lets be honest. I've been a face-making, cheesin' weirdo from the very beginning. Its just who I am at heart!

Warm Fuzzies

Some days are more stressful than others.

Days like this call for some warm fuzzies.

Oh shoot, NO NOT THAT KIND OF WARM FUZZY.

More like these kind of warm fuzzies. 

Enjoy!

The kind that comes from knowing I live in a free country that stands united and strong.

Never forget.

The kind that Dez sent me today. Goosebumps of the century watching this!

I love cute daddies.

I'm going to be married a cute daddy someday. 

Counting on a lot of warm fuzzies like this from that guy.

 The kind that comes from rereading notes and pictures from my six-year-old niece.

The kind that comes from a picture of my sister and niece. Don't get much more adorable.

The kind that comes from finding a stuffed divider full of cards, pictures, and love notes and memories from friends, mamma, and more.

The kind that comes in the form of a giant hedgehog drawing on my birthday letter from my best friend missionary. Hedgehog led to tears of laughter. Letter led to tears of love.

Seriously warm. Seriously fuzzy.

Perfect recipe for:

BEDTIME.

First Days & New Beginnings

This is me on my first day of school as a senior year in high school. 

Big man (youknowwhatImean) on campus. Hot stuff. Ruled the world. Unstoppable. Excited.

This is me on my first day of school as a senior in college. 

Say WHAT? 

This is my last first day of school ever.  

I'm confused... how did I get here?! This can't be real. I'm nervous. I have to be a big girl and enter the real world in less than a year. I'll be getting a job. As a nurse. A real nurse. Is this really my life?

Yes, it really is. And guess what...

I'm the big man on campus again. I know what BYU is all about. Hawt stuff :) Ruling the world. Unstoppable. And yes, SO excited! Here we goooo!

Last week when I was still in Texas I got to take on mamma duty for my nieces' and nephew's first day of school since it was also their real mamma's big first day of school at TWU. It was the best. I'll admit, it was a bit of an emotional roller coaster sending the girls off to first, third, and fourth grade (sheesh i'm such a sap, how am I ever going to keep it together as a mom?!). But the big one, the kicker, was walking Brayden into his first day of middle school. Talk about heart-wrenching. Middle school has way too much potential to be evil and scary and overwhelming. Lockers to open. Classrooms to find. Busy hallways. Dilemmas about what the cool clothes to wear are and what the right hairstyle is. Big, tall, post-puberty upperclassmen. I know that in no time at all Brayden will work his way into his new school, find his niche, make new friends, and rule the school. I've gotta say though, i'm so stinking glad those days are behind me!! 

Cheers to first days and new beginnings! :)